0
Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Do you capitalize "Viking"?
Hello
Do you capitalize the word "Viking"? I'm aware that it is the sort of question which might seem weird, and that I risk being asked to check various dictionaries and to try and borrow, buy or steal a book on basic English grammar.
The reason I'm asking is that I've been browsing through /The British Isles/, a history book by Hugh Kearney, and that I was struck by the fact that the word "viking" is systematically printed thus, whether as a noun or an adjective, except in the index, in a map, and in the phrase "pre-Viking Age Irish law tracts".
Now Hugh Kearney is a Professor of History and I haven't noted any other spelling quirks on his part. So I'm wondering whether Professor Kearney might not have some sort of agenda here. Does anyone know what his reasons might be? He is very systematic.
Isabelle Cecchini
Do you capitalize the word "Viking"? I'm aware that it is the sort of question which might seem weird, and that I risk being asked to check various dictionaries and to try and borrow, buy or steal a book on basic English grammar.
The reason I'm asking is that I've been browsing through /The British Isles/, a history book by Hugh Kearney, and that I was struck by the fact that the word "viking" is systematically printed thus, whether as a noun or an adjective, except in the index, in a map, and in the phrase "pre-Viking Age Irish law tracts".
Now Hugh Kearney is a Professor of History and I haven't noted any other spelling quirks on his part. So I'm wondering whether Professor Kearney might not have some sort of agenda here. Does anyone know what his reasons might be? He is very systematic.
Isabelle Cecchini
Top answer
[/nq] Absolutely. [nq:1]Now Hugh Kearney is a Professor of History and I haven't noted any other spelling quirks on his part. So I'm wondering whether Professor Kearney might not have some sort of agenda here.
- [/nq] Absolutely.
- [nq:1]Now Hugh Kearney is a Professor of History and I haven't noted any other spelling quirks on his part.
- So I'm wondering whether Professor Kearney might not have some sort of agenda here.
- Does anyone know what his reasons might be?
- [/nq] I don't know.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
6 Answers
0
[nq:1]Hello Do you capitalize the word "Viking"?[/nq]
Absolutely.
[nq:1]Now Hugh Kearney is a Professor of History and I haven't noted any other spelling quirks on his part. So I'm wondering whether Professor Kearney might not have some sort of agenda here. Does anyone know what his reasons might be? He is very systematic.[/nq]
I don't know. Why does a1a write "cockney" rather t
Absolutely.
[nq:1]Now Hugh Kearney is a Professor of History and I haven't noted any other spelling quirks on his part. So I'm wondering whether Professor Kearney might not have some sort of agenda here. Does anyone know what his reasons might be? He is very systematic.[/nq]
I don't know. Why does a1a write "cockney" rather t
00
[nq:2]Hello Do you capitalize the word "Viking"?[/nq]
[nq:1]Absolutely.[/nq]
Thank you.
[nq:2]Now Hugh Kearney is a Professor of History and I ... know what his reasons might be? He is very systematic.[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't know. Why does a1a write "cockney" rather than "Cockney"?[/nq]
Aaaah! But "cockney" is spelt thus in the NODE and in the AHD4, which also allows for "Co
[nq:1]Absolutely.[/nq]
Thank you.
[nq:2]Now Hugh Kearney is a Professor of History and I ... know what his reasons might be? He is very systematic.[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't know. Why does a1a write "cockney" rather than "Cockney"?[/nq]
Aaaah! But "cockney" is spelt thus in the NODE and in the AHD4, which also allows for "Co
00
[nq:1]Hello Do you capitalize the word "Viking"? I'm aware that it is the sort of question which might seem weird, ... might not have some sort of agenda here. Does anyone know what his reasons might be? He is very systematic.[/nq]
The only clue I see so far is that Merriam-Webster includes a non-capitalized use: when "viking" is used in a general sense to mean a pirate or sea rover. Bu
The only clue I see so far is that Merriam-Webster includes a non-capitalized use: when "viking" is used in a general sense to mean a pirate or sea rover. Bu
00
[nq:1]Hello Do you capitalize the word "Viking"? I'm aware that it is the sort of question which might seem weird, ... some sort of agenda here. Does anyone know what his reasons might be? He is very systematic. Isabelle Cecchini[/nq]
The dictionaries are divided on this. NSOED gives only the capitalised version, whereas Chambers gives the uncapitalised version but says "also with cap".
The dictionaries are divided on this. NSOED gives only the capitalised version, whereas Chambers gives the uncapitalised version but says "also with cap".
00
[nq:1]Do you capitalize the word "Viking"?[/nq]
Sometimes.
There was no race of people known as "Vikings", either by themselves or by others. At times though, farmers and seafarers of the Norse races decided to go "viking" and sailed South for raiding (and later settled). So "A viking raid" shouldn't be capitalised, but where this has become a proper noun by its use, then it could be accep
Sometimes.
There was no race of people known as "Vikings", either by themselves or by others. At times though, farmers and seafarers of the Norse races decided to go "viking" and sailed South for raiding (and later settled). So "A viking raid" shouldn't be capitalised, but where this has become a proper noun by its use, then it could be accep
00
[nq:1]Do you capitalize the word "Viking"?[/nq]
A crosspost from rec.org.sca
"Someone who goes viking is no more a 'Viking'
than someone who goes biking is a 'Biking'. "
I particularly like this, because a well-known re-enactor in the UK once ran a motorbike shop callled "Viking Biking"
A crosspost from rec.org.sca
"Someone who goes viking is no more a 'Viking'
than someone who goes biking is a 'Biking'. "
I particularly like this, because a well-known re-enactor in the UK once ran a motorbike shop callled "Viking Biking"
0
Related Questions